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Home » BLOWING AWAY THE UNCERTAINTY
BLOWING AWAY THE UNCERTAINTY
Time;8/19/1974, Vol. 104 Issue 8, p99
The article discusses the economic consequences in U.S. business community on the accession of President Gerald Ford from the Administration of President Richard Nixon. It states that the turn over ceremony is the relief rather than a celebration from a long-threatening cloud of uncertainty. It notes that the business executives hoped public faith in new White House leadership and Government management can elicit development in the troubled economy. It also presents various opinions from several executives on the matter including George Strichman, chairman of Colt Industries, a huge conglomerate, Charles W. Moore, research director of William C. Rodney & Co., a Michigan brokerage house, and Henry Walker Jr., chairman of the Honolulu-based Amfac, Inc.
The Zigzagging Missionary. // Time;6/10/1974, Vol. 103 Issue 23, p33
The article focuses on the politics and stand of U.S. vice president Gerald Ford in view of the present dilemma of President Richard Nixon in relation to the Watergate affair. Accordingly, Ford has met his challenges with creative zigzagging. On occasions, he twits at Nixon's critics but veers...
Settling In. Osborne, John // New Republic;10/5/74, Vol. 171 Issue 14, p8
Focuses on the debate about acceptance of Gerald Ford's presidency in the White House instead of U.S. President Richard Nixon's. Work briefing of Ronald H. Nessen, successor to the President's first press secretary, in the White House press room; Relations of Ford with Nessen; Criteria of Ford...
EXIT NIXON. // Time;8/19/1974, Vol. 104 Issue 8, p21
The article offers information on the resignation of President Richard Nixon on August 8, 1974. It states that Nixon came up with his decision to resign from the presidency on August 6, 1974 and tighten his decision on August 7, 1974. It notes that President Nixon met his chief of staff, General...
The Oval Office Felt Square to Some. Mulrine, Anna; Whitelaw, Kevin; Kingsbury, Alex; Omestad, Thomas; Newman, Richard J. // U.S. News & World Report;12/5/2005, Vol. 139 Issue 21, p14
This article focuses on the opinion of various U.S. presidents regarding work in the White House's oval office. Richard Nixon said the room stifled creativity, Gerald Ford said it was too luxurious, Jimmy Carter preferred a room near his bedroom, and Ronald Reagan felt it was too formal to be...
Funeral held for former President Ford. Roehr, Bob // Bay Area Reporter;1/4/2007, Vol. 37 Issue 1, p11
The article reports that former United States President Gerald R. Ford, who died at the age of 93 on December 26, 2006, was remembered during a state funeral. Ford believed that everyone should be treated with fairness, dignity, and equality, which he proved by pardoning former president Richard...
Honoring a Healer. // Scholastic News -- Edition 5/6;1/29/2007, Vol. 75 Issue 14, p2
The article pays tribute to the late Gerald R. Ford, the 38th President of the U.S. Historians often refer to Ford as the accidental President. This is because Ford was the only person to become President without ever being elected as either President or Vice President. Ford only served 2 years,...
Subtle Changes in the Oval Office. SIDNEY, HUGH // Time;1/13/1975, Vol. 105 Issue 2, p18
The article reports on the elusive changes in the Oval Office located in the White House in Washington D.C. in 1975. It highlights some of these modifications including the disappearance of the secret route to the President's office and the shift of its colors from vivid blues and golds during...
Making the House a Home. // Time;1/31/1969, Vol. 93 Issue 5, p17
The article presents an overview on the transfer of tenancy in the White House in Washington D.C. It highlights some of renovations done to make the mansion as the most elegant one in the U.S. It notes that U.S. President Richard Nixon was unsatisfied with the Oval Office and chooses to work in...
The President and the Pardon of Mr. Nixon. // America;9/21/1974, Vol. 131 Issue 7, p122
The article presents the author's views on U.S. President Gerald R. Ford's pardon of Richard M. Nixon. The author imparts that President Ford's pardon was a serious mistake on his decision making. The pardon was allegedly wrong timing, for Nixon was not yet indicted and that the reasons for the...


Founded in 2007, Yeshiva Day School of Las Vegas (YDLV) offers a superior educational environment that inspires in each student a love of G-d, a reverence for the Torah and its mitzvos and a lifelong commitment to the acquisition of knowledge.
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On Monday (18 June), the investigative judge for Case No. 173, known as the NGO Foreign Funding Case, summoned WHRD Mozn Hassan, Founder and Executive Director for Nazra for Feminist Studies, for interrogation, where she will appear before him on Wednesday 20 June 2018 at New Cairo Court in Fifth Settlement District.
Mozn Hassan plays a key role in the work of WHRDs to improve the situation of women in Egypt and in the region. She has been working on several women's issues since 2001, including violence against women in the public sphere, providing psychological, medical and legal support services for survivors, and supporting the political participation of women in Egypt and the Middle East and North Africa. Mozn Hassan is a recipient of the Charlotte Bunch Women Human Rights Defenders Award in 2013, and recipient of the Right Livelihood Award (RLA), known as the Alternative Nobel, which she and Nazra for Feminist Studies were awarded with in 2016 for combating violence against women in the public sphere. Mozn Hassan 's contribution to coordination, collaboration and networking among women's rights group and initiatives in several districts in Egypt is also very significant. Hassan's achievements demonstrate her commitment to peaceful activism, which aims at improving women's situation in Egypt, especially since the issues that Mozn Hassan has worked on expose gross human rights violations and shed light on the horrid reality faced by women in Egypt.
Mozn Hassan is also a part of the Regional Coalition in which she volunteers as a regional expert. It is due to Mozn's tireless efforts in guiding and inspiring WHRDs and organizations that the Coalition is what it is today.
Mozn Hassan continues her fight in defending human rights on a daily basis without hesitation despite risks and intimidation. She has succeeded, in several contexts, in protecting hundreds of WHRDs through solidarity,providing important services and protection. The summoning cannot be seen as anything but a continuation of the systematic persecution of Mozn Hassan and Nazra for Feminist Studies, and as an act of reprisal for her belief in the state's ability to undertake necessary reforms for women in Egypt.
The Regional Coalition of Women Human Rights Defenders in the Middle East and North Africa considers the vicious attack on civil society in Egypt, especially that the summon of WHRD Mozn Hassan comes right after Dr. Magda Adly's summon (co-founder of El Nadeem), as a systematic strategy to criminalize the defense of human rights and women's human rights, and to paint WHRDs as criminals in order to delegitimize their work. Mozn Hassan's work is legitimate and legal, as all of Nazra's activities are legal and public. Nazra is a legally registered association and has the Economic and Social Special Consultative Status with the UN since 2014.
The Coalition is proud to have Mozn Hassan as the Coalition Regional Expert and stands in solidarity with Mozn Hassan and Nazra.
-End all legal persecution of WHRD Mozn Hassan.
-Drop all charges against Mozn Hassan.


I have just spent a pleasant three nights decorating my 11 year old son's bedroom while he was away with my parents.
Mind you he's so laid back that he wouldn't have reacted too much. Especially as anything is better than the purple he's been living with since we moved here 5 years ago.
I'm always confused by the whole decorating thing.
Should paint last forever or should it be a frequent expenditure?
Stuff fashion here – I'm on about practical "does it look clean, has it gone off" standards.
I once bought a flat where it was dictated in the owner's deeds as to how often to paint the walls and how often the woodwork. Really? Like you are going to check are you?
The painting I don't mind but the pre-work. Oh golly. That's a Chore.
Unless, of course, you get a plastic piece of garden furniture with a 12 year warranty. All you do with that is give it a wipe now and again and problem solved.
A bit like the garden swing bench in the review below. Simple. Easy. Attractive and durable. What's not to love.
Anyways, I'm now off to find out how long the paint on the rest of the house will last for. Or I could look for somewhere else to live. hmmm.


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No More Rascality Soludo Bans Revenue Collection by Proxy
With effect from last Friday, July 1, public parks owned by the government will now be directly managed by government, with caretaker committee members in Anambra markets now forbidden from collecting revenue on behalf of the Anambra State Government, reports Jude Atupulazi.
This comes as the government of Anambra State commences the implementation of a new tax and levy regime in Anambra markets and roads which will now be the sole responsibility of the Anambra State Internal Revenue Service, following the digitizing of the revenue collection process in the state.
A press statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Anambra State Government, Mr Christian Aburime, said Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo gave the disclosure at a one day town hall meeting held at Prof Dora Akunyili Women's Development Centre, Awka with transport and market union executive members in Anambra State last Wednesday.
In the statement, Governor Soludo warned anyone posing as a government revenue collector in any part of the state to desist forthwith or face the full wrath of the law, as his administration was making frantic efforts to stop leakages of government revenue which usually ended up in private pockets.
Governor Soludo said Anambra was an alpha state and expressed optimism that in line with his campaign promises, the state would be peaceful, livable and prosperous.
The governor emphasized that Anambra should ideally be a reference point in all ramifications as one of the developed states within the federation; even as he further pointed out that the new tax regime had become imperative as the era of revenue generation through the sale of crude oil was gradually phasing out.
He revealed that since February this year, no remittance had been done from the NNPC into the federation account as money accruable from the sale of crude oil was gradually dwindling.
The governor stressed however that henceforth, public parks owned by the government would be directly managed by government, and directed that caretaker committee members in Anambra markets were now forbidden from collecting revenue on behalf of government.
The governor pleaded with those who would be affected by the new system to consider the larger picture of making Anambra succeed for the greater good of the people, just as he however quickly offered to provide alternatives for them.
Governor Soludo called on different unions to mobilize their members for action, stating that his administration would not hesitate to enforce the new directive for the general well-being of the state's economy.
The Commissioner for Transportation, Barrister Pat Igwebuike, who also addressed the gathering, said Governor Soludo was committed to the cause of road transporters. She asked them to join hands with the Soludo Government to salvage what she described as the already battered system, which, she said, had gross adverse effects on the state's economy. She called on the members of the union who had not acquired their identification to do so as quickly as possible
The Commissioner for Homeland Affairs, Chief Chikodi Anarah, said Anambra used to be the pride of place for business operators every day of the week, but decried the low turnout and patronage which had characterized Mondays due to the Sit-at-home syndrome. He said the development was making business owners to relocate their businesses to neighbouring states.
The chairman of Anambra State Internal Revenue Service, Mr. Richard Madiebo, explained that the present administration had designed the revenue framework in such a way that people could now pay their taxes and levies seamlessly, as well as eliminate multiple taxation.
Mr. Madiebo further said that all taxes and levies payers in the state would be issued with a digital Identification and disclosed that commercial vehicle operators who made daily payments would not be charged to pay anymore in any public park, adding that five percent of the revenue generated by any union, would be given to them to manage the respective business places.
The Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Uche Okafor; Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Paschal Agbodike; Secretary to the State Government, Professor Solo Chukwulobelu; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Ernest Ezeajughi, and an array of market leaders attended the function which featured a question, answer and contribution session.
Earlier, in a post-exco briefing, the Anambra State Commissioner for Information, Sir Paul Nwosu, said in a bid to tighten loopholes of leakages in the revenue windows of the state, the Government of Anambra State has banned the collection of revenues by ministries, departments and agencies.
He said such function would now be the sole responsibility of the Anambra State Internal Revenue Service, following the digitizing of the revenue collection process in the state.
Commissioner Nwosu further revealed that plans were underway to centralize the data of all the MDAs with the State's Information Communication Technology Agency, to avoid a situation where ICT vendors who worked for different MDAs in the past, held government to ransom at the expiration of their contract by holding on to valuable data.
Sir Nwosu added that the Anambra State ICTA would now be charged with the responsibility to holistically consolidate and manage the data of all the MDAs in Anambra State, stressing that ANSEC discussed and approved the need for a baseline data pool.
He maintained that to achieve this, each ministry was required to own and be able to provide baseline data on itself and the MDAs under it, as government's decisions would be evidence-based and data driven henceforth.
The commissioner stated that also at the ANSEC Meeting, an elaborate presentation was made by the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Dr Obinna Ngonadi, on enhancing the Igbo Apprenticeship Scheme or "Igba Boi", a scheme that was peculiar to Ndigbo and had over the years been a unique venture capital raising model, studied in business schools around the world, which, he said, was unfortunately under threat.
He pointed out that government was critically looking at all manner of variables to sustain and reinvigorate the unique business model, consequent upon which it set up an ANSEC Committee to come up with ways to enhance the apprenticeship scheme so that an enduring policy could be formulated on "Igba Boi".
In another development, Commissioner Nwosu concluded that ANSEC received a report on the case of a woman of 75 years who was viciously raped to the point of coma in Awkuzu.
The Commissioner said that the man who committed the crime revealed that his native doctor told him that raping such an old woman would make him rich. The young man has since been arrested and the police are on the trail of the native doctor whose shrine will eventually be destroyed.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Why Stability Contributes to Agility
April 10, 2018 April 17, 2020 by Marla Gottschalk
Most were already experiencing some level of distress. Some had survived the economic crisis — only to realize they were one of the last companies standing of their kind. They were relieved, yet stunned. Others were facing new and disruptive competition. But, they all sensed they were on shaky ground as to how to move forward effectively and continue to grow.
But, regardless of the industry, there was a certain similarity in their predicament — and the thread that connected them was growth. Rather, how these organizations were unprepared to support further growth.
To my astonishment, most had managed to grow rather ferociously with a sparse internal structure — until they reached an inflection point where the "informal" structure no longer supported the organization. Then all hell began to break loose. Communication channels began to fail. Cross-functional teaming was in disarray. Response times expanded. Customers were unhappy. Tempers would flare.
I was challenged to help them, but soon realized that increased internal stability was required. Without a stable underlying foundation, nothing would work. (Read more about this here.) However, preserving what made them both innovative and unique, was also important. That became the goal: a set of best practices that reinforced the supportive skeleton of the organization — such as mission, values and communications channels — but still allowed for flexibility that helped these organizations survive and thrive.
We would usually focus on a few elements:
Discuss mission & strategy. It was usually time to revisit the core principles of the organization. Did the mission still fit ? Was there and agreed strategy to support that mission? Without these elements, the moving parts that drove growth would become locked.
Stabilize communication. By the time an organization reached 80 or 90 people, the informal communications network became stressed and or had fractured. Investing in intranet software, for example, to facilitate conversations and collaboration became critical critical. A technology investment was also needed — especially if a sizeable group of contributors were in the field.
Examine software solutions. Software does need to match the demands within an industry. However, in many cases platforms were added as a particular need presented, with little consideration concerning how the addition impacted employees and customers. So, the "house that Jack built" became the plan. Solutions didn't work together, and in some cases they competed, adding needless steps and little added value.
Review talent needs. Inevitably positions needed to be added that could serve a strategy function for key functions. These individuals could keep an eye on growth opportunities and what the organization would need to do to respond effectively. Moreover, role clarity for existing roles, was usually weak or absent.
Look at development. Contributors need to believe that they have room to grow. Adopting practices that encourage feedback and coaching are also factors which affect internal stability. In small business, when an individual departs, a library of experiences goes with them. A completely new role may not always be possible — but a discussion of what a contributor may want to learn may be possible.
I was awestruck by the risks that small business owners happily shoulder for the good of both their customers and employees. Helping them in some small way was incredibly rewarding. Pointing them in the direction of stability, with the goal of preserving flexibility — seemed the right move.
Dr. Marla Gottschalk is an Industrial/Organizational Psychologist. She is a charter member of the LinkedIn Influencer Program. Her thoughts on work life have appeared in various outlets including Talent Zoo, Forbes, Quartz and The Huffington Post.
You Should Embrace a Little Boredom in Your Life: Here's Why
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Join the South Georgia BBQ & Outdoor Festival in Douglas on Sept 7th and 8th!
The event takes place at the Douglas Municipal Gene Chambers Airport (440 Elton D. Brooks Blvd). Event will include a GBA sanctioned BBQ competition, FREE outdoor concert on Friday night, DJ on Saturday, motorcycle show and dice run, car show, arts & crafts, outdoor vendors and more. The South Georgia BBQ & Outdoor Festival is open to the public Friday, September 7th, 1pm-10pm and Saturday, September 8th, 9am-5pm. General Admission is free, but there's a small charge for some events/activities.
Motorcycle riders and enthusiasts are encouraged to mingle and shop with vendors on Friday from 1pm – 10:00pm.
Also on Friday from 4:30pm – 7:00pm, motorcyclists can pre-register for events that take place on Saturday.
On Saturday, September 8th, motorcycles will roar in and out of the airport from 8am – 5pm! Saturday events will feature a Dice Run, Motorcycle show, 50/50 draw tickets to benefit a non-profit in Coffee County (1 ticket $1 or 6 tickets $5), Motorcycle Games and more!
For more about the Motorcycle Show, click here.
For more about the Dice Run, click here.
The Friday Night concert and fun will starts with REAL radio with Matt Baldridge LIVE onstage beginning at 6pm! Join the fun as Matt gets everyone ready for the concert with music and giveaways!
KASON LAYNE will take the stage at 7pm! Founded in 2007, Kason Layne is one of those bands that sounds like a him rather than a them. Their debut single, "Miss You Bad" charted simply on the strength of the band's hard work, visiting radio stations and playing every dive bar and college campus that would open their doors for them. With a sound that blends all of their influences, the best of Southern Rock, Modern Country and classic honky-tonk, giving them a sound comparable to many in the "outlaw" movement of the 70's. The group is preparing to release their second album in July and will be touring your area soon.
BBQ Cook-off: $20,000 in Prizes and CASH!
The BBQ Cook-off will be held in conjunction with the South Georgia BBQ & Outdoor Festival and will be held at the Douglas Municipal Gene Chambers Airport, Friday – Saturday, September 7 & 8, 2018.
This year in addition to regular GBA cook off categories, we are offering an ancillary Cook-off! To find out more about how to become a member of the Georgia Barbecue Association (GBA), click here. Be sure to follow the South Georgia BBQ Festival on Facebook.
The NAPA/Brooks Auto Parts Car Show will feature over 50 antique and custom cars and trucks for all to see on Saturday, September 8 from 9:00am – 2:00pm.
Winners will be announced 2:00pm at the Youth Center.
To register for the car show, click here.
Plaques Awarded for: Top 20 in Show, People's Choice, Best Engine, Best Interior, Best Paint, Best of Show (Trophy).
LTC (ret) John "Doc" Holladay, President of the Friends of Army Aviation and a three tour Vietnam Veteran, invites the public to come out and experience the opportunity of a lifetime by riding in a restored UH-1H Huey helicopter.
The cost to participate in this opportunity of a lifetime will be $60 per person (tax deductible).
Join Wildlife Educator & Naturalist Tyler Lott as he educates the public about the importance of the native wildlife encountered throughout the Southeast.
Tyler will have his LIVE booth setup in the Kids Area to teach children and adults about the importance of preserving wildlife and protecting nature's creatures.
Did You Know There Are Four Types of Watermelon?


Everyone knows that a smile is an attractive feature, but there are many other benefits of smiling that you may not know about.
Your smile can affect both your health and your mood, as well as many other factors.
Here's a guide for the best benefits of having a healthy smile.
Most people think that their oral health only affects their teeth. This isn't true.
In fact, oral health can affect your heart health and can lead to giving birth too early and low birth weight in pregnant women.
If you think that you may need to improve your oral health, you should go visit a dentist.
You can't feel confident with your smile if your teeth aren't healthy.
The sooner that you receive orthodontic treatment, the sooner you will be able to restore your confidence.
Once your oral health is up to par, you can begin to enjoy many of the natural benefits of smiling.
One of the biggest benefits is that smiling can reduce stress.
A recent study from the University of Kansas suggested that smiling while performing difficult tasks can reduce your heart rate and the stress level on your body.
While smiling won't necessarily remove stressful tasks from your life, it will help you to feel better while you go throughout the stresses of day-to-day life.
Not being able to smile due to not liking your teeth can add stress in your life.
3. Laughing and Smiling Are Natural Painkillers.
Another great benefit of having a great smile is that smiling works as a natural painkiller.
When you smile, the body releases endorphins, which are chemicals that are produced in the brain.
Endorphins can help to soothe any pain and boost your mood. While smiling will not replace traditional pain killers for serious or chronic pain, it can help you to feel better.
Having a healthy smile can be a natural way to help boost your mood and make you feel better.
4. Smiling Boosts Your Immune System.
One of the greatest health benefits of having a healthy smile is that it can help boost your immune system.
Because smiling can help reduce stress in your body, your body is more prepared to fight against infection and disease.
While smiling cannot treat any disease, smiling regularly can help prepare your body to fight off any unwanted pathogens and be strong enough to fight illness if you do happen to be exposed to unwanted germs.
Another great benefit of smiling is that it makes you more attractive to the people around you.
A recent study suggested that smiling increased your physical attractiveness in comparison to those who don't smile.
Additionally, smiling can make you seem kinder, more personable, more sincere, more competent, and more approachable.
Having a healthy smile can help you connect with other people and perhaps even find more success in your personal and professional life.
Smiling is a sign of happiness and health. The more healthy your smile is, the more healthy you will be and the better you will feel.
If you don't feel like your smile is where you want it to be, make an appointment with your dentist and discuss the treatments that you need to become happy, healthy, and confident.


Charlton Park has been a Garden Centre and Nursery for over fifty years, run by the Stevenson family for all that time. We enjoy providing good quality products that offer value to our customers, many of whom return to us year after year. Browse our blog about local events and news on the garden centre, if you would like our help, you can get in touch by telephone 01235 772700 or email using the contact form anytime.Overseas orders are possible but you will need to contact us in advance as additional delivery charges will apply.


35 million hectares of agricultural land are managed organically by almost 1.4 million producers.
The regions with the largest areas of organically managed agricultural land are Oceania (12.1 million hectares), Europe (8.2 million hectares) and Latin America (8.1 million hectares). The countries with the most organic agricultural land are Australia, Argentina and China.
The highest shares of organically managed agricultural land are in the Falkland Islands (36.9 percent), Liechtenstein (29.8 percent) and Austria (15.9 percent).
The countries with the highest numbers of producers are India (340'000 producers), Uganda (180'000) and Mexico (130'000). More than one third of organic producers are in Africa.On a global level, the organic agricultural land area increased in all regions, in total by almost three million hectares, or nine percent, compared to the data from 2007.
Twenty-six percent (or 1.65 million hectares) more agricultural land under organic management was reported for Latin America, mainly due to strong growth in Argentina. In Europe the organic agricultural land increased by more than half a million hectares, in Asia by 0.4 million.
About one-third of the world's organically managed agricultural land – 12 million hectares – is located in developing countries. Most of this land is in Latin America, with Asia and Africa in second and third place.
The countries with the largest area under organic agricultural management are Argentina, China and Brazil.
31 million hectares are organic wild collection areas and land for bee keeping. The majority of this land is in developing countries – in stark contrast to agricultural land, of which two-thirds is in developed countries. Further organic areas include aquaculture areas (0.43 million hectares), forest (0.01 million hectares) and grazed non-agricultural land (0.32 million hectares).
Almost two-thirds of the agricultural land under organic management is grassland (22 million hectares). The cropped area (arable land and permanent crops) constitutes 8.2 million hectares, which represents a quarter of the organic agricultural land.


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'L.A. Confidential' TV Show in Development at CBS
Posted on Thursday, September 7th, 2017 by Ben Pearson
L.A. Confidential, the 1990 noir mystery novel by author James Ellroy that was adapted into a feature film in 1997, is getting the small-screen treatment…again. An L.A. Confidential TV show pilot debuted back in the early 2000s, but didn't move forward as a series. Now, a new report indicates that CBS is developing a new TV version of the story that will be brought to life by one of the producers of the critically-acclaimed movie.
Deadline reports that producer Arnon Milchan (The Revenant, Brazil, Fight Club, 12 Years A Slave) is producing a TV version of Ellroy's novel alongside Jordan Harper (Gotham), who will write the script. According to Deadline, this version "follows three homicide detectives, a female reporter and a Hollywood actress whose paths intersect as the detectives pursue a sadistic serial killer through the seedy underbelly of glamorous 1950s Los Angeles." That sounds similar enough to the description of the movie, with the lone exception of the female reporter; in the film, Danny DeVito plays a publisher of a tabloid called Hush-Hush, so perhaps they're erasing or minimizing that role in an effort to include more female characters in this version.
I still haven't read Ellroy's novel (it's on my list), but from what I understand, the movie only adapts a handful of the characters and subplots featured in the book, so there's a lot of potential for this as a TV series. In fact, New Regency produced a pilot back in the early 2000s that starred Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Vincennes (the celebrity cop by Kevin Spacey in the film), David Conrad as Ed Exley (Guy Pearce), Josh Hopkins as Bud White (Russell Crowe), Melissa George as Lynn Bracket (Kim Basinger), Eric Roberts as Pierce Patchett (David Strathairn), and Pruitt Taylor Vince as Sid Hudgens (Danny DeVito). The pilot was included as a bonus feature on the movie's home video release years later. You can watch it below:
I'm not thrilled about this being on CBS, since airing on a major broadcast network like that automatically means the showrunners will need to sand down the story's rougher edges, and that dirty underbelly is integral to the plot's success. But as a sucker for anything noir, I have to admit that I'm intrigued at the idea of heading back to 1950s Hollywood on the small screen. Period pieces like this aren't cheap to make, so I'm guessing that CBS is going to go all-out to recreate the streets of Tinseltown in its heyday, and that alone should be worth tuning in to see.
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Adaptation, CBS, Drama, Mystery/Suspense, Noir, Television, Arnon Milchan, James-Ellroy, l.a. confidential


The Little Boy/Girl who Lost Their Name fuels imagination with impossible personalisation and beautifully silly fun.
Every child is taken on a unique adventure to find each letter of their name, with help from wise and wonderful friends.
This magical journey to the land of nod is written by BBC comedy writer David Cadji-Newby and Portuguese illustrator Pedro Serapicos. Hand-drawn illustrations meet high-tech systems on every page, bringing the book to life.
The Little Boy/Girl Who Lost Their Name makes the perfect first birthday gift or christmas present. You can create a heartfelt gift for a newborn and a memorable keepsake for children up to the age of 8.
Each book varies in length depending on the number of letters in the child's name.
The story works for names as short as 3-letters and as long as 12-letters, but short names don't mean short stories, as every book is a minimum of 24 pages long.
The books are printed especially for you, in large double-A4 landscape format on thick, uncoated, environmentally friendly (and quite stunning) paper.
Our company used to be called Lost My Name, but changed to Wonderbly as we expanded our library of lovely personalised books beyond our original title.
The books open to be 59.4 cm wide and 21 cm in height.
This product is dispatched to you by Wonderbly.
Each book is personalised and printed just for you. We'll usually deliver within 7-8 days in the UK. Overseas, it could take up to four weeks.


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Calgary sees highest December home sales since 2007 amid 40 per cent buying surge
CALGARY — The Calgary Real Estate Board says the residential real estate market had its best December since 2007 last month as real estate agents sold nearly 1,200 homes.
The real estate board says low interest rates and a 20 per cent inventory drop helped boost home sales to 1,199 in December — a 40.1 per cent increase from December 2019.
Sales of homes in Airdrie, Alta., just north of Calgary, were at a record high for December while Cochrane, Alta., northwest of the city, had its best sales year in five years in 2020.
Cities across the country have noted that the homebuying season was pushed back into the second half of 2020 after spring shutdowns related to COVID-19.
CREB chief economist Ann-Marie Lurie says the second wave of COVID-19 restrictions have so far not hampered real estate sales the same way as the spring shutdown.
Despite the surge in December, Calgary has not seen the same level of real estate rush as other cities, and total home sales for 2020 in Calgary were down one per cent compared with 2019.
A recent report by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. noted that through summer and early fall, the pandemic and energy sector were dampening demand for housing in Calgary, particularly in apartment buildings.
How Canadian Immigration Law Created a Crisis for the Dutch Royal Family
Every spring, Ottawa residents awaken to an explosion of colour across their beautiful city. Tens of thousands of tulips attract, amaze and delight Ottawans and visitors to the city in the Canadian Tulip Festival. "These tulips are a token of our gratitude to Canada," Princess Margriet of the Netherlands told New Canadian Media in an emailed statement. "As I was born in Ottawa, I particularly feel strongly attached to Canada. I think of Canada as my second homeland. Whenever I visit, the warm welcome of the Canadian gives me a sense of coming home. The country and its citizens have a special place in my heart." Most people who attend know the flowers were a gift from the royal family of The Netherlands. Fewer people know the story behind why Canada received such a gift. Even fewer know about the immigration law that created a succession crisis in the House of Orange-Nassau, the family that currently rules the Dutch. The reason why Princess Margiet was born in Ottawa and not in her homeland is a tragic one. Her country was invaded and occupied by the Nazis beginning in May of 1940. Fearing for their safety, Queen Wilhemina, Margriet's grandmother, fled to Britain along with the rest of the family. But not long after that, the Battle of Britain began. Fire and steel were raining down from the sky and the ever-present threat of invasion meant that their new home was not safe either. Queen Wilhemina remained in Britain as the head of the Dutch government-in-exile. Her daughter, Princess Juliana fled to Canada with her family. They eventually found a quiet home in a house some Ottawans might recognize. Today, Stornoway is the official residence of the leader of the official opposition. But back during World War 2, it was here that Juliana lived with her family. The awkwardness began when it was discovered she was pregnant with Margriet. Canada has traditionally used a naturalization concept called Jus Soli, which means 'right of the soil' in Latin. It is more commonly known as birthright citizenship. If you are born in Canada, you are Canadian. With the way this country's laws were set up at the time, Margriet would have become a British subject. The Naturalization Act of 1914 would have been at play here. It clearly stated that "persons deemed to be natural-born British subjects" included "any person born in His Majesty's dominions and allegiance." Jus Soli is the law in almost all the countries in the Americas. The only old-world exceptions appear to be Pakistan, Tanzania and Lesotho. Canada appears to have borrowed its Jus Soli policy from the British. It has its origins in English common law. It's hard to ascertain the exact story of how Canada came to adopt birthright citizenship from the English, but one of their laws offers a clue. The British Nationality and Status of Aliens Act of 1914 is worded identically to the Naturalization Act of 1914. Britain's laws were Canada's laws and they would therefore apply to the Dutch royals. A potential heir to the throne being under the thumb of the British government was a problem. "Since it was 1943 and they didn't have the technology yet to tell you whether the baby was going to be a boy or a girl, it would have been a problem if the baby turned out to be a boy," said historian Adam Bunch. He is the author of The Toronto Book of the Dead where he recounts some of the more macabre stories of Toronto's history. Bunch also hosts Canadiana his YouTube channel where he takes deep dives into various episodes of Canadian history. The birth of Princess Margriet is one of his videos. Any future king of the Dutch would have to be, Bunch said, "solely Dutch and not have dual citizenship with another country. So being Canadian would have been a problem if they had given birth to a little prince." The then-Government of Canada declared Juliana's maternity ward denationalized, which Bunch describes as "a little puddle of international waters." The Netherlands practices Jus Sanguinis, Latin for the 'right of blood'. If a baby's parents are Dutch citizens, they have a right to claim citizenship with the Netherlands regardless of where they were born. Canada also practices Jus Sanguinis alongside Jus Soli. So Canadians can be born abroad and have a right to claim Canadian citizenship. The birth was a huge morale boost for Margriet's people. Canada welcomed the young princess by flying the Dutch flag over the Peace Tower at Parliament Hill, the only time a foreign flag has flown there. Canada would go on to help liberate the Netherlands from the Nazis. They would also launch Operations Manna and Chowhound, the hulking task of airlifting food to the starving Dutch people during the war. For these reasons, and sheltering the Dutch royals, Ottawa received thousands of tulips as a gift after the war. Each year, residents are reminded of the special friendship between the two nations when they bloom. Canada would update it's immigration laws in 1947. The Canadian Citizenship Act was, in part, a tool for helping Canada to establish a national identity. Service in two world wars helped give Canada a look in the mirror and Canadians liked what they saw. They growingly saw themselves as distinct from Britain and wanted an identity of their own. Henceforth with the new law, children born in Canada were no longer British subjects, but Canadian citizens with a birthright to Canadian soil. Mansoor Tanweer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, New Canadian Media
LEICESTER, England — Leicester moved to the top of the Premier League at the midway point of its campaign after a dominant 2-0 victory over Chelsea on Tuesday. Wilfred Ndidi and James Maddison scored in the first half to lift Leicester above Manchester United and Manchester City into first place. Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers has been happy for his players to go under the radar in the title race, but his bright and energetic team continues to show its credentials and is now unbeaten in six league games. Even with Jamie Vardy's goal drought extending to five games, Leicester had enough quality to beat a Chelsea side that has now lost five of its last eight league games to pile the pressure on manager Frank Lampard. Chelsea, which spent nearly $300 million on new players ahead of the season, dropped to eighth place. Maddison's 41st-minute goal — his third in his last three games — came just two minutes after VAR overturned a penalty award for Chelsea when replays showed Jonny Evans' foul on Christian Pulisic came outside the box. Ndidi had put Leicester ahead with a shot from the edge of the area that flew in off the post, after Harvey Barnes missed his kick following a short-corner routine in the sixth minute involving Marc Albrighton and Maddison. Knowing victory would take them back to the top for the first time since November, the Foxes continued to push and Maddison clipped the bar 10 minutes later after Timothy Castagne's bustling run. Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel had to turn Reece James' driven effort over after 20 minutes but the visitors' flaws had been exposed early. There was little suggestion they would recover, even if Callum Hudson-Odoi hit the side netting from a promising position. By then, Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy had already turned Albrighton's speculative effort over, while Barnes and Vardy remained constant dangers. Vardy continues to nurse a long-standing hip problem but demonstrated his threat when he burst down the right and Mendy saved his attempted lob. Chelsea thought it had a lifeline six minutes before the break when Craig Pawson pointed to the spot after Evans tripped Pulisic. Yet a VAR review correctly ruled the foul was just outside the area — Pulisic's momentum carrying him in — and Mason Mount blazed the free kick over. It proved crucial as the Foxes immediately doubled their lead. From Schmeichel's goal kick, the ball eventually fell for Albrighton and his clever lofted pass went over Vardy and into the path of Maddison. The midfielder had been left unmarked and comfortably beat Mendy for his eighth goal of the season. The unmarked James Justin should have made it 3-0 four minutes after the break but headed Albrighton's deep cross just wide at the far post. Albrighton was also denied a goal by the offside flag and Mendy saved from Youri Tielemans. But despite failing to grab a third, Leicester's victory was never in danger. Chelsea substitute Timo Werner, without a goal in the Premier League since October, did have the ball in the net when he turned in Hakim Ziyech's free kick with four minutes left but he was ruled offside. ___ More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports The Associated Press
Tiny councillor wants township's SSEA contributions laid bare
North Simcoe's environmental association seems to be under the microscope in another municipality. This time, it's Tiny Township, which is also the residence of the Severn Sound Environmental Association's (SSEA) board chair Steffen Walma. The matter came up at a recent budget meeting when Coun. Tony Mintoff questioned the increase in municipal contributions toward the SSEA. "I'd like to get a specific cost for the SSEA," he said. "I noticed the actual in 2019 was $93,000 and for 2020 it was $176,000. I would like to know which services are mandated and the cost for those services and any other services they provide and their costs and benefits for the residents." The issue also came up recently at Tay Township's council meeting. Budget documents shared with council show that the township budgeted $93,672 for the SSEA costs in 2019 and paid a total of $119,136, which includes costs for Sustainable Severn Sound (SSS) and an invasive species coordinator. For 2020, the township budgeted $176,911 for SSEA costs and paid $181,600, which includes the SSS cost. For 2021, Tiny is being asked for $228,805, which breaks down to a $11,155 for the SSS portion, $187,630 for the SSEA core services and $30,020 for municipal drinking water source protection. Walma, who is also Tiny's deputy mayor, ventured to sum up the reasons for why the costs are the way they are. "In 2019 to 2020, we made a board decision to stop Band-Aiding our way through operations," he said, adding there was a leadership change and SSEA relocated its office to Tay Township. "In 2019, we presented a 65% increase to our municipalities. That included a change in staffing and office and upgrading of our networks." As part of its water quality sampling mandate, staff needs to visit various locations in North Simcoe, said Walma. "We've been borrowing vehicles from municipalities and never owned our vehicles," he said. "(From a) liability standpoint, municipalities were no longer willing to loan us vehicles, so we ended up having to purchase our own. "We had been testing wells in the municipality, so we had the responsibility to decommission those wells at the end of their life. We started budgeting a reserve we've never had in the past. We also found some liabilities in our existing staffing policies. We modernized our existing budget for the 65 percent." This year, the increase is five percent, according to Walma. "That was listed in the five-year plan," he noted. "We do expect to see some savings on 2020, but those savings won't be realized by our partners this year because we don't know what they are yet." As for the services, Walma said, every municipality pays a board-approved service level, there's no a-la carte. Members, however, have the choice to opt out of core services on a two-year notice period. "(Core services) include cold-water stream sampling, fish habitat mapping, inland lake-water quality sampling, and invasive species programs," he said, adding he can bring to council a more comprehensive list. "The SSS portion of things, they have been rolled in together, is optional. This is a service municipalities choose to participate in." Where contracting the SSEA itself is not mandatory, "the only legislated piece is the source-water protection modelling that's been put in place by the province," said Walma. "In short, at least until council opts out of the program, we're obligated to the pay $187,000, not the $11,155 for the SSS." Mintoff said he would bring forward a notice of motion at a future meeting so council could take a closer look at it. Mehreen Shahid, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, OrilliaMatters.com


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Q: javascript How to get an objects value from an array full of objects? I'm kinda new to javascript and came across the following situation:
There are some products which have to get in a list and calculated. I thought about making this list an global array to be available across the whole site. The products themselves will be objects with attributes like name, type, price.
The problem now is that I have an array like this:
[{name: name, type: type, price: price}{name: name, type: type, price: price}...]

The user will be able to add as much of these objects as he likes.
And now I can't find out how to be able to list for example all selected names. I saw how people printed out the complete array and an object specific attribute but I'm not able to combine them.
I'm a trainee at work and for the next week there is nobody who can help me and because the code is from work I'm not allowed to share a single line of it. Thanks for helping! ^^"

A: You can iterate through an array in javascript, for instance with a for...of loop:
for (const item of myArray) {
    /* do stuff with `item` */
    console.log(item.name + ' costs ' + item.price)
}

A: @UlysseBN's answer is fine if you're using the ECMAScript 6 standard, but if not, here's a canonical ECMAScript 5 approach using Array#forEach():
myArray.forEach(function (item, index, myArray) {
  console.log(item.name + ' costs ' + item.price)
})

A: It's not 100% clear what you are asking, but see if this helps:

var data = [
  {name: "apple", type: "fruit", price: 5},
  {name: "banana", type: "fruit", price: 4}
];

console.log("The first object in the array is an " + data[0].name);

A: You could get all the names through mapping the objects to their names
array.map(obj => obj.name)

To display it, you can build up one long string, where every of these names is seperated by a newline (\n):
.join("\n");

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
The 5 Rules of Training
By stevemagness | May 2, 2020 | 1
Rule #1: The boring stuff is your foundation
We have a temptation to want to skip to the 'cool, sexy' stuff. It's boring to do endless easy runs or to spend hours working on the starting position in the sprints. But the 'boring' work serves as our foundation. We need to have a firm understanding of the basics before we move on to the next step. And once we have moved on, we need to continually go back to the basics to make sure that they are ingrained. In my pet theory of connection, the key to cementing and understanding is connecting ideas. If we can't connect a concept or training stimulus to anything, then its impact is negligible. Think back to why you didn't like reading the assigned English classics or the boring ancient history textbook in High School. Or even when you began to try to figure out coaching and none of the textbooks made sense and you had to grind through explanations of the Krebs cycle. There was nothing to connect it to. The boring stuff serves the foundation for connection. The larger and widespread base of 'boring' work we have, the greater impact the specific 'sexy' work has. Even though it might be the most appealing to do, the basic work is a necessity.
What does this mean? The simple work we all do, easy running, high-end aerobic work, strides, and speed development all serve as the foundation we need to build off of. It might not seem as cool todo 6x60m acceleration or a 14-mile long run when we could do something interesting like sets of 400,300,200 at 60, 43, 27, but one is the icing on the cake and one is the foundation. Even though we love icing, it can spoil on us quickly if we don't have the foundation to counterbalance it.
Rule #2: Let it Come, Don't Force it.
You can't force fitness. The body doesn't adapt according to a schedule that you set, instead, it only adapts and grows at the rate that it decides to. What this means is that you have to design workouts to grow based on the current state of your body, not on where you desire to be. You can't force your body to go from running tempo's at 5:30 mile pace down to 5:20. Instead, take what your body allows you to do. Let fitness come as you get good consistent work in.
Forcing backfires.
Rule # 3: Take the Next Logical Step
Don't go there until you need to go there. As a coach and athlete, it's often tempting to want to make big jumps. Whether that's in jumping from 70 miles per week to 100, or in going from doing 10×400 to 20×400. We get sudden spurts of motivation that tend to push towards wanting to make large jumps. The problem with this philosophy is that it's a short term fix. While we could have got a nice steady boost in fitness from going from 70 to 80 to 90 miles per week, instead we just get one go for broke stimulus.
Instead of trying to force our way into big breakthroughs, take the next logical step.
Rule #4: You lose what you don't train
It seems obvious. If you don't use it, you lose. It's a cliché. But how many athletes scream out "I lost my speed" after performing 4 months of only running mileage. They blame the mileage, without realizing that they didn't train pure speed once during that period. Poor mileage. It takes the bad rap. The fact that speed was not trained had a bigger impact than any slow running that was performed. The same fact holds true for any component of fitness. If we don't train it, we lose it. When we are tapering for weeks on end if we don't perform aerobic work, bye-bye aerobic abilities. If we quit lifting when our season gets hectic, bye-bye strength gains.
It's simple. But often forgotten. If you don't want to lose it, train it.
Rule #5: Train the individual, not the system
The athlete + the demands of the event determine you're training. We fit our system around that. We don't take the athlete and shove them into our training or coaching philosophy. Adapt to the individual.
Stop putting yourself into a box, saying you adhere to X system or playbook. You have to adapt to the ingredients you are given and the cake you are trying to bake!
Like the content? Join 10,000 others to receive my weekly Performance Newsletter!
Posted in Teaching and Learning, Training
Sat Ganesha Khalsa on May 4, 2020 at 12:00 pm
best reminder ever…to be read once per month…
View stephenmagness's profile on Facebook
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The Foundation of Knowledge: Recommended Reads
A Philosophy of Coaching
The History of Endurance Training
The Mental Game- Understanding People and Ourselves
The World of Science
The Mechanics of Athletics
The Training Details
On Coaching with Magness & Marcus
Enhance Your Coaching:
The Scholar Mentor Program
Mental Skills and Performance Coaching
High Performance West
The Growth Equation
How to Run: Running with proper biomechanics
The Myth of losing speed
Episode 124: Increasing Mileage: When, Why, and How.
Ernst Van Aaken: The Pure Endurance Method
Understanding Stride Rate and Stride Length
Percy Cerutty- The Eccentric Stotan
Inflammation nation- Is inflammation good or bad?
Thyroid madness- Everything you need to know
The Roger Bannister Effect: The Myth of the Psychological Breakthrough
4 Ways to Run Faster by Listening to Your Breathing


text:
METALWORK SCULPTURE
THE BICYCLES MEMORIAL
Funded by Realise charity, this project is a memorial to local councillor and Aspire Housing board member Brian Tomkins.
THE STORY BEHIND THE PRODUCTION
This production is a memorial piece to the late Brian Tomkins. The 70-year-old had represented Loggerheads and Whitmore on Newcastle Borough Council, served nine years as the chairman of Aspire Housing, and was a member of Newcastle-based Lyme Valley Cycling Club. Brian suffered a cardiac arrest and sadly passed away after completing a 30-mile bike ride. The production of this memorial was donated by Realise charity.
MAKING THE BICYCLES
Artworks Manager, Phil Brown researched ways of constructing the image of the cyclists with help from Brians wife, Cherry.
The production was soon underway with help from apprentice Luke Steadman. The sculptures stand at 8ft tall and can be seen on the roundabout on Whitmore Road.
"He dedicated a great deal of his time to the community and he was a very special man. What you saw was exactly what you got"
Cherry Tomkins, wife of late Brian Tomkins.
PHILLIP ASTLEY MEMORIAL
Have you heard? The Circus is in town! Find out more about the first Ringmaster and father of the modern Circus.
THE HONEY BEE
Whats that buzzing sound? It's our metalwork Honey Bee sculpture situated in the heart of Newcastle-under-Lyme!
Located at The Trentham Estate, these 'living' sculptures were ingeniously designed to look like they are coming in to land.
PLAN YOUR FUTURE,
ATTEND OUR NEXT OPEN DAY!
Register to attend our next open event and discover your next steps with PM Training.


text:
Accuride Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2012 Results in Line With Guidance
Mar 6th 2013 5:50PM
Full year 2012 results within range of previously updated guidance, including discontinued operations:
Net sales of $929.8 million, down 0.7 percent year-over-year
Operating loss of $143.3 million, down $167.2 million year-over-year, including one-time charges
Net loss of $3.76 per share, including one-time charges
Adjusted EBITDA of $62.8 million, down 27.1 percent year-over-year
Total of $139.6 million in one-time impairment and other charges related to goodwill and other assets
Investments, restructuring leave Accuride well-positioned to leverage expected 2H 2013 industry recovery
Liquidity sufficient to weather industry cycle trough and continue to invest in the business
EVANSVILLE, Ind.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Accuride Corporation (NYS: ACW) - a leading supplier of components to the North American commercial vehicle industry - today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2012 ended December 31, 2012.
Fourth Quarter 2012 Results
Fourth quarter 2012 net sales from continuing operations were $176.3 million, compared with $242.5 million in the same period in 2011, a decline of 27.3 percent, primarily reflecting the impact of weaker economic and industry conditions during the quarter. The Company experienced a $150.4 million operating loss for the quarter, as compared to $9.5 million of operating income in the fourth quarter of 2011. The 2012 operating loss included $139.6 million in one-time impairment charges related to goodwill and other assets related to Gunite and other one-time charges (as detailed below). The Company reported a net loss of $156.5 million, or $3.30 per share during the quarter, including one-time charges. Fourth quarter Adjusted EBITDA declined year-over-year to $5.1 million, resulting in an Adjusted EBITDA margin of 2.9 percent, compared to 10.0 percent in the same quarter of 2011. As of December 31, 2012, the Company had $26.8 million of cash plus $37.2 million in availability under its ABL credit facility for total liquidity of $64.0 million.
Fiscal Year 2012 Results
Net sales from continuing operations for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012 were $929.8 million, compared with $936.1 million in the prior year, a decrease of 0.7 percent. The decline in net sales resulted from weak second-half industry conditions that saw commercial vehicle manufacturers cut production schedules, previously announced OEM customer decisions for Gunite, and aftermarket demand fall. In addition, Brillion's industrial end-markets were weak during the second half of 2012. The Company believes the industry cycle is at or near the bottom, with a market recovery expected in the second half of 2013. Accuride reported a fully diluted loss per share of $3.76 for the year ended December 31, 2012, which includes the impact from the one-time impairment charges for Gunite of approximately $2.78 per share and other one-time charges of approximately $0.17 per share. Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations for fiscal-year 2012 was $62.8 million, compared to $86.1 million in the prior year, a 27.1 percent decrease. Cash was $26.8 million at year end, while free cash flow was negative $31.2 million for the year which included $59.2 million of capital expenditures to selectively expand capacity and improve facilities and operations.
Commenting on Accuride's results and business outlook, President and CEO Rick Dauch said, "We continue to take the tough, necessary actions to "FIX" Accuride and restore our reputation as an industry leading supplier. The majority of our capital investments and restructuring activities are now complete, positioning our business units to compete aggressively in the marketplace now and during the expected industry upturn in the second half of 2013.
"Operational performance over the past six months in the areas of on-time delivery, lead-time reduction, quality and warranty are at significantly improved levels. However, we continue to face challenging, near-term market conditions. The good news is that most key economic indicators point to a recovery in Class 5-8 Truck and Trailer builds in the back half of 2013," Dauch added.
Goodwill and Other Intangible Impairment and Other Non-Cash Charges
Accuride's results were impacted by $131.6 million in one-time, non-cash impairment charges related to goodwill and other assets related to Gunite, representing $2.78 per diluted share. The impairment charges included $99.6 million for goodwill and intangible assets, $34.1 million for property, plant and equipment; and $2.1 million for the associated benefit on income taxes. Accuride also recognized non-cash charges during the quarter of $4.7 million and $3.2 million to write-off certain idle assets in our Wheels and Brillion businesses, respectively.
"These impairment and other non-cash charges do not affect Accuride's liquidity or debt covenant ratios, and do not impact Gunite's ability to return to profitability," said Greg Risch, Accuride's Vice President and CFO.
Industry Conditions
Net orders for all commercial vehicle segments Accuride supplies improved in the fourth quarter with the arrival of the industry's traditional peak order season. Class 8 net orders increased 42.2 percent from the third quarter, with medium-duty and trailer order levels increasing 22.9 percent and 64.3 percent, respectively. However, fourth-quarter production fell for both the Class 8 and trailer segments as the industry sought to work off excess inventory. Overall Class 8 production levels are expected to stay subdued through the first half of 2013. The medium-duty segment is expected to improve modestly, while the trailer segment is projected to remain stable throughout 2013. Although economic uncertainty has kept fleet purchases conservative, current forecasts continue to show the industry growing, starting in the second half of 2013 and continuing in 2014-2015.
Fourth Quarter Business Segment Results
Accuride Wheels segment net sales were $86.2 million, down $19.9 million, or 18.8 percent, from the same period in 2011, due to lower year-over-year commercial vehicle build rates and aftermarket demand. Wheels' Adjusted EBITDA was $16.1 million, a decrease of $13.6 million, or 45.8 percent from the fourth quarter of 2011. During the quarter, key projects to install additional aluminum wheel capacity at Accuride's Camden and Monterrey facilities were completed on schedule, and the new equipment is commercialized and performing at anticipated levels. The actions taken to increase aluminum wheel capacity have positioned Accuride to gain share in this growing market segment.
Gunite segment net sales were $36.5 million, down $24.8 million, or 40.5 percent, from the fourth quarter of 2011, attributable primarily to the impact of low-cost offshore competitors and the loss of primary position on drums and hubs at two OEM customers. Gunite's Adjusted EBITDA was negative $4.2 million, compared to positive $1.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2011. During the quarter, Gunite completed its installation of efficient machining and assembly equipment and improved its casting operations. It also consolidated machining activity from its Elkhart and Brillion machining facilities into its Rockford operation, which enabled it to cease Elkhart and Brillion machining production at the end of November. These actions took Gunite's quality, delivery and lead-time performance to industry-leading levels, while significantly lowering its cost structure. The Company is still targeting Gunite to become a 10-12 percent EBITDA business and is pursuing additional cost-reductions in supply chain, logistics and other areas to achieve that level of performance.
Brillion Iron Works
Brillion Iron Works' fourth quarter net sales were $25.8 million, down $10.9 million, or 29.6 percent, from the fourth quarter of 2011, while Adjusted EBITDA was $3.2 million, an increase of $1.3 million, or 67.1 percent, from the fourth quarter of 2011. After a strong first half, weak economic conditions continued to dampen demand in Brillion's core industrial, construction, and oil and gas markets in the fourth quarter.
Imperial segment's fourth quarter net sales were $27.7 million, a decline of $10.6 million, or 27.7 percent, from the same period in 2011 due to the drop in OEM customer production volumes. Imperial's Adjusted EBITDA declined to negative $1.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2012 from a positive $0.6 million in last year's fourth quarter. Performance at Imperial's Decatur, Texas, operation continues to improve. Consolidation of Imperial's Tennessee operations is anticipated to be completed by March 31, 2013.
Liquidity and Debt
As of December 31, 2012, total debt was $324.1 million, consisting of $304.1 million of our outstanding 9.5% senior secured notes, net of discount, and a $20.0 million draw on our ABL facility. As of December 31, 2012, the Company had $26.8 million of cash plus $37.2 million in availability under its ABL credit facility for total liquidity of $64.0 million. The Company's positive operating cash flow, driven primarily by the seasonal reduction in working capital, offset its capital spending of $15.0 million in the quarter.
Outlook and Summary - Accuride Positioned to Perform in 2013
"The heavy lifting to restructure our operations is largely complete," said Dauch. "The resulting gains in quality, delivery, and lead time have restored confidence, helped us renew important long-term customer agreements, and gave us the opportunity to win up to $30 million in new aluminum wheel business. With our improving performance and reduced cost structure, we are confident that Accuride is well-positioned to capitalize on the growth in demand expected when the industry cycle strengthens in the second half of this year. Accuride now has the process capability and capacity in place at all locations - coupled with a reduced cost structure and commercial discipline - to profitably 'GROW' our company here in North America. As we return to profitability, we will look for strategic opportunities to expand our wheel-end business globally.
"We expect Class 8 builds will be in the range of 230,000 to 250,000 units in 2013. Current forecasts project a weak first half followed by growth in the second half of the year. Capital spending will return to a normalized rate of 3.5-4.0 percent of sales in 2013, which will be primarily focused on our steel wheel business. Other 2013 priorities include implementing a common ERP system and improving our scheduling system in order to achieve even higher levels of performance for customers," Dauch added.
Earnings Conference Call Information
Accuride will host a conference call to discuss the financial and operational results of its Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Fiscal 2012 on Thursday, March 7, 2013, beginning at 8:00 a.m. Central Time. Analysts and investors may participate on the conference call by dialing (877) 261-8992 in the United States, or (847) 619-6548 internationally, and using participant code 34324637. A live webcast of the conference call can be accessed via the Investors section of Accuride's website - http://www.accuridecorp.com/investors. A replay will be available from March 7, 2012, at 10:30 a.m. CDT until 11:59 p.m. CDT, March 14, 2013, by calling (888) 843-7419 in the United States, or (630) 652-3042 internationally, using access code 34324637.
With headquarters in Evansville, Ind., USA, Accuride Corporation is a leading supplier of components to the North American commercial vehicle industry. The company's products include commercial vehicle wheels, wheel-end components and assemblies, truck body and chassis parts, and other commercial vehicle components. The company's products are marketed under its brand names, which include Accuride®, Accuride Wheel End SolutionsTM, Gunite®, ImperialTM and BrillionTM. Accuride's common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol ACW. For more information, visit the Company's website at http://www.accuridecorp.com.
Statements contained in this news release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements regarding Accuride's expectations, hopes, beliefs, and intentions with respect to future results. Such statements are subject to the impact on Accuride's business and prospects generally of, among other factors, market demand in the commercial vehicle industry, general economic, business and financing conditions, labor relations, governmental action, competitor pricing activity, expense volatility and other risks detailed from time to time in Accuride's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including those described in Item 1A of Accuride's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011. Any forward-looking statement reflects only Accuride's belief at the time the statement is made. Although Accuride believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee its future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Except as required by law, Accuride undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or developments after the date of this news release.
Three Months Operating Results
Three Months Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands) 2012 2011
Net sales:
Wheels $ 86,225 48.9 % $ 106,157 43.8 %
Gunite 36,539 20.7 % 61,368 25.3 %
Brillion Iron Works 25,811 14.6 % 36,662 15.1 %
Imperial Group 27,684 15.7 % 38,312 15.8 %
Total net sales $ 176,259 100 % $ 242,499 100 %
Gross Profit (loss) $ (4,166 ) (2.4 )% $ 21,839 9.0 %
Income (loss) from Operations:
Wheels $ 1,078 1.3 % $ 18,832 17.7 %
Gunite (139,821 ) (382.7 )% (778 ) (1.3 )%
Brillion Iron Works (1,312 ) (5.1 )% 512 1.4 %
Imperial Group (1,449 ) (5.2 )% (37 ) (0.1 )%
Corporate / Other (8,936 ) — % (9,009 ) — %
Consolidated Total $ (150,440 ) (85.4 )% $ 9,520 3.9 %
Net income (loss) $ (156,538 ) (88.8 )% $ 4,073 1.7 %
Adjusted EBITDA:
Wheels $ 16,141 18.7 % $ 29,782 28.1 %
Gunite (4,164 ) (11.4 )% 1,190 1.9 %
Brillion Iron Works 3,213 12.4 % 1,923 5.2 %
Imperial Group (1,153 ) (4.2 )% 616 1.6 %
Continuing Operations $ 5,111 2.9 % $ 24,327 10.0 %
Bostrom Seating — — % — — %
Fabco Automotive — — % — — %
Consolidated Total $ 5,111 2.9 % $ 24,327 10.0 %
Fiscal Year Operating Results
Wheels $ 414,340 44.6 % $ 406,587 43.4 %
Gunite 221,974 23.9 % 251,113 26.8 %
Brillion Iron Works 158,320 17.0 % 146,837 15.7 %
Imperial Group 135,137 14.5 % 131,558 14.1 %
Gross Profit $ 46,889 5.0 % $ 80,811 8.6 %
Gunite (151,940 ) (68.4 )% (1,785 ) (0.7 )%
Brillion Iron Works 11,969 7.6 % 2,301 1.6 %
Imperial Group (4,161 ) (3.1 )% 3,141 2.4 %
Corporate / Other (44,087 ) — % (37,609 ) — %
Consolidated Total $ (143,291 ) (15.4 )% $ 23,912 2.6 %
Net loss $ (178,007 ) (19.1 )% $ (17,031 ) (1.8 )%
Gunite (4,247 ) (1.9 )% 6,571 2.6 %
Brillion Iron Works 20,212 12.8 % 8,205 5.6 %
Continuing Operations $ 62,788 6.8 % $ 80,935 <


text:
package robustio

import (
	"io/ioutil"
	"os"
)

func rename(oldpath, newpath string) error {
	return os.Rename(oldpath, newpath)
}

func readFile(filename string) ([]byte, error) {
	return ioutil.ReadFile(filename)
}

func removeAll(path string) error {
	return os.RemoveAll(path)
}

func isEphemeralError(err error) bool {
	return false
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Bedroom 9'4" x 11'0" 8'0"
Closet 1'11" x 5'8" 8'0"
Dining room 13'0" x 10'2" 8'0"
Full bathroom ~ 9'3" x ~ 12'0" 8'0"
Full bathroom ~ 9'3" x ~ 11'10" 8'0"
Kitchen/dinette 12'3" x 12'0" 8'0"
Pantry 2'8" x 2'8" 0'0"
Pantry 4'0" x 3'8" 8'0"
Living room 14'0" x 14'6" 8'0"
Derived from the instantly popular model 2085-V2, this model offers even more space and comfort by increasing the depth by more than four feet for an additional 115 square feet in each unit.
Discreetly screened entries are sure to be appreciated by residents as is the modern cladding of contemporary masonry and clapboard siding.
Inside, we discover that rather than the common mirroring of units, each unit provides subtle differences such as the master bedroom with or without semi-private access to the bathroom, and alternate bathroom and kitchen configurations.
Because of the interior variation options, this is a wonderful model for multiple builds that will appeal to an expanded market.
This plan offers two interiors with minor differences concerning the bathrooms and kitchen and pantry. The floor plans provide visual options for the same plan and flexibility and variety for investors building multiple units.
What is the average cost to build this home?
Although we do no actual construction, the ballpark estimate to build this home in Quebec (Canada) is around $280,000 which excludes the cost of land, taxes and hook-ups to municipal services but may be different in your area.


Having been raised harvesting Alaska wildberries you'd think I would be a pro at making jams and jellies. Truth is, I really stink at it. It always comes out syrupy. It's like you have to have some sort of instinctual jam-making knowledge passed down through the generations.
It was a bluebird day in Anchorage as we made our way to our super-secret blueberry spot. The only downside of picking berries on a sunny day is they are harder to see — but I'm not complaining!
My old friend Ivan Night is a man of many talents; he's a musician, an educator, a sound technician, a beer brewer, but for the sake of this blog post we'll stick to just one of his titles: an apiarist.
Ivan has been keeping bees for about eight years. His family has owned and operated Alaska Wild Teas for more than three decades, so honey is a natural side project. Check the bottom of this post for a homemade tea recipe.
Recently I visited Ivan's home to see how he harvests honey from his busy little bees.
As part of my personal challenge to forage at least one edible plant a month this summer in Anchorage, I decided to revisit wild rose petals. Several years back I collected these perfectly pink petals and made a just-OK jelly out of them. Thing is, I don't eat jelly. I'm not a toast and jam kind of gal, I guess.
This time I opted to make rose petal syrup. It was easy to prepare and resulted in a gorgeous pink concoction that tasted as good as roses smell.
You can find wild roses just about everywhere in Anchorage in June. This bush is on the on-ramp to the Seward Highway.
To make one bottle of syrup I collected about 2 gently packed cups of petals. Be ready to encounter some caterpillars, bugs and spiders (I lost about a cup of petals when I spotted an arachnid creeping around my collecting jar).
I followed this recipe from Nitha Kitchen to make the syrup.
Yesterday I had the pleasure of guest posting on GretchenLovesAnchorage about thrift store fashion shopping in Anchorage. It was refreshing to post something a little different from what I normally write and it brought back memories of working as the features editor for The Northern Light.
In case you missed it, here's my thrift store advice. And for those non-Anchorage residents, you still might learn a thing or two about how to dress to the nines without spending the tens — of thousands…ok, I am done trying to be clever. Enjoy! And if you have a chance, take a look around Gretchen's blog. It's happy, insightful and hopefully will make you want to come visit our fabulous city.
I have been thrift store shopping in Anchorage since I was 12 when I bought my very first Kurt Cobain-style flannel shirt at Value Village on Boniface (the Dimond location was Fabricland and Nerland's furniture store). Since then I've furnished my dorm room, first apartment and current home in second-hand décor. I have also created a fun, colorful wardrobe that I can say I'm pretty proud of.
So let me delve into the Anchorage thrift store scene and give you some tips and tricks of the thrifty trade.
Recently my friend, Karen, asked me to be her "thrifty style adviser." She wanted a little more pizzazz in her wardrobe without spending a lot of cash. I accepted the challenge, but gave her a few ground rules.
First, you have to be persistent and diligent. You can't expect to waltz into a secondhand shop and immediately flick to the perfect, most amazing item you've ever seen in your life. You have to trudge through a whole lot of, well, crap. People often literally donate trash to thrift stores. I've spoken with former Salvation Army employees who have told me they toss a majority of donated items because they aren't suitable to sell. Be prepared to visit thrift stores more than once and to dig, dig, dig to find the good stuff.
My other tip is to take fashion risks. Try on things you wouldn't normally wear. You never know — that Las Vegas cat shirt might be the perfect level of ironic for you to pull it off.
Do some research. Analyze your closet inventory and figure out what articles of clothing you want or need. I always keep a mental list of items I've either worn out or really want. For instance, I NEEDED salmon-colored jeans and — ta-da! — I found some the other day for just $2. Also on my recent list was a pair of plain black heels. Mission accomplished when I found a brand-new pair of Sofft brand black patent leather pumps for $25 — a little pricey by my thrifty standards, but since they were originally $110 I felt it was worth it.
A great resource is Pinterest. I'll often type in an article of clothing I already own and see what Polyvore experts have put together. From "black blazer" to "chevron maxi dress," you can create a mental file of what to keep an eye out for.
My goal as a thrift store clothing shopper is to find good quality clothes that will complement my current wardrobe. Sometimes I go out on a limb and buy something wacky and wild just because I love the item. I don't feel remorse when it doesn't work out because I really didn't spend much on it.
Now let's get started. Anchorage thrift shops are not all alike. Some are great for furniture, others are better for clothing and some have really great dishes. Today I'll discuss the good clothing stores in town.
Salvation Army — Northern Lights Blvd.
Anchorage has three Salvation Army thrift stores – on Dimond, Mountain View and the oldest location on Northern Lights Boulevard next to Crossbar. My mom used to take me to this store when I was just four years old (thrifting runs in the family).
This Salvation Army is great for most clothes. Target donates unsold items to the city's Salvation Armies, so if you like Merona, Converse and Mossimo brands you can often find them here for $4-6 with the tags still attached. They are usually stored on their own racks.
Salvation Army has an endless supply of shirts.
I found Karen a few pretty shirts, a lovely blue dress with pockets, and she came up with a floral skirt and some indigo straight-legged jeans. It's off to the fitting room. Keep in mind that not all thrift stores offer such a luxury. Employees have told me it has to do with homeless people using them as public toilets. The Mountain View Salvation Army only has a full-length mirror, so be sure to wear a camisole and leggings if you want to see how things look on you.
I stood outside the fitting room as Karen broke a mild sweat.
"Nobody said you didn't have to work for it," she said as she tried on several unexpectedly frumpy shirts. True that, Karen; true that.
She came away with the blue dress, a striped mini skirt, a comfy Gap sweatshirt and jeans. I found a couple of pairs of perfect-fitting pants and red patent leather flats.
Quick tip: check the rack of recently tried-on clothes. Often times people do the hard work of digging for you and don't end up buying what they find. That's where I discovered some awesome Vigoss pedal-pushers.
It was our lucky day because *almost* everything was 50 percent off, so we walked out with an armload for under $20.
This gem is nestled in a strip mall on International Airport Rd. with Guido's and Partycraft. Enjoy a saketini at The Dish and get your thrift on because the S.P.C.A. won't disappoint. Psst! Here's a secret: a beloved local consignment store often donates their unsold items to this place. I've found designer brands here for mere pennies. Plus, your purchases go toward helping animals so what isn't there to like?
Most of the clothing follows a flat pricing list, save for a small rack up front with "fancy" clothes. The items on this rack range from $10-20. A few weeks ago I spotted a cashmere argyle sweater vest from J. Crew for $10. Pretty good deal!
Karen didn't find much on our visit — just a Merona denim-colored skirt. But I found two Columbia brand skirts — with pockets — and an unusual sequined belt.
Full-body selfies are the worst!
Don't forget to remind the cashier to give you a punch card if you spend more than $10. I don't remember what happens when you fill it up, but it's a perk nonetheless.
The "Buy more, spend less" mantra isn't always accurate and I hesitate to say that Value Village is a good thrift store. Often its knickknacks are grossly overpriced and they have a pathetic furniture selection. But they do stock an unbelievable number of jeans and tops at reasonable prices, which is why I'm including it on today's list. Skip the dresses at VV because most of them are priced at $30, and that's just crazy! Pricers here understand the value of a designer label and won't hesitate to mark a Calvin Klein top with holes in it at $20. But most of the tops and jeans are about $7-10, which I can handle.
I went solo on this Value Village trip and came out with black cropped dress pants from Banana Republic for just $7.
Karen and I had a medium-good thrifting day. I had to remind her not to give up. Thrifting can be rewarding, especially when you find just what you're looking for at a good price. She definitely bulked out her wardrobe with a dress, skirt, pants and shirts without spending more than $25. I call that a thrifting success!
What thrift stores do you visit to find great duds? How do you fill your clothing cravings without overspending?
Visit my blog at www.alaskaknitnat.wordpress.com and keep any eye out for the rest of my Anchorage thrift store series.
It's nearly mushroom season in Alaska so I thought I'd repost my boletus mushroom guide from my old blog. With a little knowhow, you can join the foraging movement and become a mushroom hunter.
Here is my DISCLAIMER: I've been foraging for mushrooms my whole life and I am positive that what I'm picking is edible. I am not a mushroom expert but I can give you great advice on how to discern boletus mushrooms from inedible ones. Pick at your own risk! Some people experience gastric upset after eating boletes even though they aren't poisonous. Never eat a bolete unless it's been thoroughly cooked. When in doubt, throw it out!
Feel free to contact me and e-mail me photos of your finds if you ever have any questions. There are quite a few edible mushrooms in Alaska, but I'm only knowledgable about boletus.
There are several types of boletus mushrooms and you can find many of them in the Anchorage area. Most are edible and the ones that are poisonous will let you know by their scary color.
The U.S. Forest Service has a great Alaska mushroom guide. I highly recommend taking a look at it.
The only inedible boletes I've come across in Alaska are boletus ludiformus and boletus coniferarum. Ludiformus is red, which to me is a signal to not eat it. The coniferarum has yellow flesh that when bruised or cut will rapidly turn inky blue. Keep in mind that many edible types of boletus will oxidize, but not nearly as quickly as the coniferarum turns from yellow to blue. It looks pretty cool, but tastes extremely bitter (but will not kill you if eaten).
You've got to get over these factors if you'd like to carry on.
First, all edible boletes have sponge under the caps instead of gills. Boletes are the only mushroom in Anchorage forests that have sponge instead of gills besides the hawks wing mushroom, which has hedgehog-like spines underneath (and it's edible if you boil it). You can exclude any mushroom with gills because it will not be a bolete. This one fact makes bolete hunting reassuring because there is so much you can rule out. There are deceptive mushrooms that really look like bolete caps, but when you turn them over and see gills, just let them be. They tricked you!
Aspen Scaber-stalk — these are found in birch and spruce forests, typically around moss, low-bush cranberry and crow berry bushes. They have sienna-colored caps with dirty-looking stems (almost looks like the texture of a terry-cloth towel). The flesh also tends to oxidize and turn black when cut.
Alaskan Scaber-stalk — these look a lot like the Aspen scaber-stalk but darker with a narrower stem.
Boletus Miribilis — I have never encountered this bolete, but thanks to the folks at the Girdwood Fungus Fair, they have provided me with a lovely photo. I'm so excited to try and find some next summer!
King bolete — this is the purest, most prized bolete and is the equivalent of a wild porcino mushroom. These have light brown caps and white stems with no terry-cloth look to them. The sponge will turn yellow with age.
In addition to the U.S. Forest Service, here is another great site about Alaska boletes.
All right, now let's set out to find some mushrooms! But where, might you ask? Well, boletes like to grow near spruce roots, birches and in mossy areas. You can often find boletes growing in people's yards. You usually won't find them in areas with long grasses and ferns or anywhere with tall vegetation. The trail system in Anchorage is a great place to start. You could also try Thunderbird Falls, Bird Creek and Girdwood.
The best time to pick boletes is from late July to mid-September. Over the years I haven't found a true rhyme or reason to how boletes grow. Sometimes you'll have a summer with hundreds of pounds and others you won't find any. Usually they grow during the rainy and damp times of Alaska summers.
Boletes can grow to be pretty huge, but it's best to pick them when they are just a couple of days old because bugs love boletes as much as humans do. They will flock to them pretty much as soon as they surface. It's rare to find a bolete that hasn't been lived in by a beetle or some sort of fly eggs, but if you pick them early on it doesn't affect the quality or taste of the mushroom. I'll show some photos later.
This large bolete was literally teeming with insects and maggots. Didn't take this one home!
Fresh boletes should have firm stems and caps, but it's ok if the cap is slightly soft. If you find a really squishy bolete, let it be because the bugs have laid claim to it. Sometimes you'll find a bolete that's firm on the cap, but when you look underneath it looks like bugs have taken it over. Not always true! Sometimes the bugs just get into the sponge part of the mushroom, which can be easily removed. Break the cap in half. If the flesh is white and has no holes in it, then keep it. Baby boletes are the best. Their cap and stem are both firm and delicious. They also look totally phallic. I just had to put that out there.
I recommend field dressing your mushrooms as you go. This means bringing a pocket knife along and whittling away the dirty root. I'm lazy and usually don't do this. It just means I'll have more trash to throw out at home.
Boletes are sturdy so you can collect them in plastic grocery or garbage bags, five-gallon buckets, or if you're feeling whimsical, in a lovely basket. It's up to you. Most will say that mushrooms should never be stored in plastic bags (I can see Laurie Constantino shaking her head). I find it easier to tote large quantities of mushrooms around the forest in a plastic bag and it doesn't seem to affect the quality of my mushrooms. Do not store your boletes in plastic bags for long periods of time. This will create too much moisture and cause them to rot.
When you find a good bolete, pick it by the base of the stem, not by the cap, as you will probably break off the cap and tear away the flesh by accident.
The great thing about picking mushrooms is they literally pop up overnight so many people could pick the same spot and still find a good share. You can usually tell if another bolete hunter has been in the area by the discarded caps and overturned trickster mushrooms. On a recent quest we covered the same ground as another hunter and still came out with nearly 40 pounds of mushrooms!
Start by whittling away the root of the mushroom to remove any soil. If you come across any bug-eaten mushrooms, either toss them or cut into the stem or cap to see if it's salvageable. Sometimes the bugs will have only gotten to half the mushroom, so why waste the whole thing? Once you've removed the big pieces of dirt, you can run each mushroom under cold water and lightly scrub with a nail brush to remove excess dirt. Only rinse them if you plan to use them right away. Rinsing them and then storing them in the fridge may cause them to rot.
Now comes the part where you need to figure out what you're doing with your mushrooms. They can be stored in the fridge for a couple of days, but you'll want to prepare them as soon as you can. If you must store them, be sure to keep them in paper bags so they can breathe.
Boletes should not be eaten raw. They will probably give you an upset stomach. If I'm not cooking with them right away I either sauté the mushrooms in butter, vacuum pack and freeze them or put them in a food dehydrator for a couple of days, bag them up or grind them into porcini powder.
Either way, you'll need to slice them up. This is where you do most of the work. You might find that lots of your mushrooms are bug eaten. I tend to toss caps that are eaten even in the slightest, but really it's not gonna kill you so this is a matter of personal preference. You'll be able to tell if the mushroom is too rotten to eat cause it will look totally gross. But as I said before, you can always try and cut away the nasty bits and keep the good bits. I mentioned before that you can remove the sponge. I do this with most mature boletes because the sponge ends up becoming slimy when cooking. With really new boletes, the sponge is firm and doesn't need to be removed. It's a bit like getting to an artichoke heart — the sponge will peel off easily and you'll be left with the yummy cap.
This aspen cap is nasty. Didn't keep any of it.
This Alaskan stem was soft and dark as soon as I cut into it. It was not good.
This stem was deceiving because it felt great from the outside, but was eaten up on the inside.
This cap had maggots in the sponge, but the actual flesh was just fine.
See? Looks great! Peel off the sponge and you'll be fine.
This is the inside of a good king bolete. Some parts have been eaten by a bug, but I wasn't horrified by it so I kept it.
This Alaskan bolete has oxidized. It's fine to eat!
This is a fresh king cap. The sponge is thin and firm. It doesn't need to be peeled off.
Once your boletes have been processed the world is your mushroom! Boletes are great in soups and sauces, but your best bet is to do a Google search for recipes for porcini. If you've decided to dry your mushrooms, they will need to be reconstituted when you're ready to use them. Boil a couple of cups of water or chicken broth and pour over the dried mushrooms in a bowl. Let sit for 20 minutes and reserve the steeped water for your soup. It'll deepen the flavor even more.
So, that's my guide to Alaska boletes. Please contact me if you have any questions, comments or even corrections.
And remember, if you're not extremely positive about a mushroom, don't eat it. Better safe than sorry!
For more Alaska mushroom information, check out this short film produced by the Alaska Teen Media Institute for the U.S. Forest Service and this terrific article by Laurie Constantino for Alaska Dispatch.